Page 6 of Betrayed Mate

My heart twisted painfully, stealing my breath. I sniffled. Shutting them out was selfish. They all cared about me and were worried.

I wiped my nose with the hem of my dress, stood up…and opened the door.

As soon as Briar saw my face, her own creased with worry. “Oh, sis.” She placed her hands on my shoulders, but before she could hug me, I took a large step back, my eyes burning with unshed tears once more.

Clearly, Ihadn’trun out.

“Please, don’t.” I would prefer to link with her because each spoken word had me fighting a sob. But if I made my link accessible, I’d have a lot more people linking to check on me. I couldn’t handle that. Not right now.

She dropped her hands and nodded. “No hugs. Got it. How about we get you out of those clothes?”

I glanced down at the cream dress Mom had bought me for this ceremony, and my heart tried to implode.

Turning toward my closet, I caught my reflection in the mirror—puffy, bloodshot eyes, the flowers in my crown hanging half off my head, and dirty feet. The only thing that didn’t look bedraggled was the stupid dress. Reid had pointed it out in a catalog we’d been looking through after he’d declared that he wanted to celebrate our bonding with a ceremony.

Rage pounded in tune with the ache in my head, and I gripped the sweetheart neckline with my hands. Betrayal and agony egging me on, I ripped the dress in half and let it fall thenmarched to my closet. I picked out jean shorts and a maroon top and slid them over my body.

“Uh… I thought we’d get into pajamas and stream something together.” She lifted a brow. “I heard there’s a new season ofNailed It.”

Yanking the camellias from my hair one by one, I shook my head. “Maybe later, but not right now. I have something else in mind.”

Briar bit her bottom lip. “Em, if you’re planning to go see Reid, I think it’s best—”

“Fate, no!” I tossed each flower on top of my cream dress. “I don’t want to see that asshole ever again.” Tears began to gather once again, but I’d cried enough for one night. “What I have in mind doesn’t require going to his territory.”

“Can I come with you?” She rocked back on her heels.

I scanned her, taking in her jeans and black shirt. “Okay.” In fact, it was probably best I didn’t go alone. If one of the scouts from our pack saw me, they’d inform Dad, and I doubted my parents would leave me by myself.

Knowing it was inevitable, I opened my pack link. Where we were heading, we needed to be able to reach the packs in case of attack.

I grimaced, waiting for Garrett or his sister, Carol, to link, but my head remained silent.

“Dad told everyone to leave you alone tonight,” Briar answered my unspoken question.

My shoulders sagged.

I scooped up the dress and wilting flowers and went to the kitchen, Briar right behind me. Our parents were in the living room, watching television, Dad in his leather recliner with his back toward the hallway and Mom sitting on the black leather couch.

At my footsteps, their heads snapped in my direction.

“Oh, Em—” Mom started.

“Please don’t.” Tears tried to escape again. “I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to sit by the firepit with Briar. We won’t be gone long.”

Dad laughed, taking note of what I had in my arms. “That’s fine. Do what you need to do, but don’t stray from the backyard. It’s too risky at night.”

“Understood.” I moved for the door then paused. “Oh, and Dad?”

He glanced over his shoulder once more. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for holding off the pack.” I pressed my lips together, unsure if I was about to smile or cry.

“I’d do anything for you girls.” He winked and smiled reassuringly. “And I know you need time.”

Mom placed a hand over her heart like she did whenever she witnessed something that moved her, and I hurried out the door, not wanting to break down all over again. I had a mission, and it was simple.

Keeping on my heels, Briar stayed with me the entire way through the huge yard.

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